6 Oct 12 - 26 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 22

ALMANOR LAKE

Trout & Salmon Bites Build with Cooling Water

CHESTER - “ The fall fishing is underway at Lake Almanor featuring beautiful crisp mornings followed by warm afternoons . Our days are loaded with fantastic trophy trout action . We are currently seeing a mixed bag of fish featuring big thick rainbows , some hot kings salmon and a few bruiser browns ,” exclaimed Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy ’ s Guide Service .

“ It is strictly a bait affair on the lake right now as the fish chase the schools of pond smelt up and down the east shore as well as many areas along the peninsula . Once these trout and salmon have the bait balled up they are aggressively going on the chomp . We have seen single , double , triple and even quad hookups that make for exciting action at the back of the boat . The size of these fish has been running from 2 to over 6 pounds and are providing outstanding battles on our light tackle , rods doubled over and lots of line going out ,” Roccucci asserted .

The Fish Sniffer ’ s own Cal Kellogg and his wife Gena fished Almanor from their Hobie kayaks this week and they did well landing a variety of rainbows and browns to 2 pounds while trolling Cripplures , Hum Dingers and Kastmasters near Canyon Dam .

“ The action was really good at Almanor and it ’ s only going to get better over the coming weeks ,” said Kellogg .

LAKE AMADOR

Anglers Target Bass , Channel Catfish Until Trout Plants Begin

IONE – Fishing pressure has been very light at Lake Amador lately , but that will all change when trout plants begin in October when the water temperature cools down enough to allow stocking . The stocking usually begins towards the end of October , depending upon the water temperature , according to Lee Lockhart of the Lake Amador Resort .

“ We will probably begin the plants by stocking Donaldson-strain steelhead and cuttbows , cutthroat / rainbow hybrids , averaging 1-1 / 2 to 2 pounds from our hatchery ,” reported Lockhart . “ We also plan to stock some trophy size Lightning Trout in the 4 to 8 lb . range this fall . In

In spring of 2018 , he said the lake will begin stocking channel catfish , supplementing the good population of catfish also in the lake .

Until the trout plant begins , anglers will continue to focus on black bass and channel catfish . Anglers can hook the largemouths on an array of plastic worms , Senkos , swimbaits , jigs , crankbaits , top water baits and other lures . The channel catfish will hit mackerel , chicken liver , anchovies , dough baits and other offerings .

The lake is currently 22 feet from full and the boat launching facilities are in full operation .

- Dan Bacher

AMERICAN BASIN / STAMPEDE RESERVOIR

French Meadows Browns Are Hitting

AUBURN – Trollers are picking up browns to 18 inches while trolling with Rapalas at French Meadows Reservoir . “ A couple of customers caught and released a bunch of browns to 18 inches while trolling with giant Rapala Shad Raps at French Meadows ,” said Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ The water is definitely cooling down now .”

Bank anglers should also see increasing success while tossing out Rapalas , PowerBait and nightcrawlers at the lake as the water temperatures go down . Fishing is best in the Middle Fork of the American inlet and along offshore ledges .

Hell Hole kokanee salmon fishing has slowed down as the fish move into spawning mode . Anglers were still picking up some kokanee in the in the 12 to 13 inch range while trolling hoochies , spinners and bugs , tipped with white corn , at press time . Newton hasn ’ t heard anything about the mackinaw or brown bite at the lake lately .

The kokanee are now spawning at Stampede . “ Trollers have reported catching and releasing some kokanee in the 18 inch class while using hoochies at 15 feet deep in the river inlet at Stampede , as well as picking up a couple of rainbows in the 21 inch class ,” said Newton .

- Dan Bacher

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AMERICAN RIVER

Salmon Should Move into River Soon

SACRAMENTO – After lowering releases from Nimbus Dam into the American River to 1,000 cfs so that the CDFW staff could install the fish picket for fall weir operations , the Bureau of Reclamation ramped the releases back up to 1,800 cfs .

However , on October 1 , just in time for the

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arrival of the fall salmon run , Reclamation reduced the releases from 1,800 cfs to 1,500 cfs .

Anglers have largely avoided the American River to focus on the much better local salmon fishing on the Sacramento and Feather rivers . Neither Alan Fong of Fisherman ’ s Warehouse in Sacramento nor Uncle Larry Barnes of Sacramento Pro Tackle have heard of anybody catching salmon on the American in the last couple of weeks .

That will all change when the main run of fall Chinook salmon moves into the lower American . That should happen soon , since many anglers lately have reported catching their one fish limits on the Sacramento between the mouth of the American and the I Street Bridge while tossing spinners from the bank and trolling and jigging from boats .

Until the salmon bite busts loose , your best bet on the river now is targeting striped bass , but fishing pressure for stripers is also very light . Anglers fishing the river from Sailor Bar to Howe Avenue should toss out Zara Spooks and Pencil Poppers early and late in the day . During the heat of the day , fishermen should fish with jumbo minnows , sardines and anchovies . - Dan Bacher

Elaine caught and released this beautiful spotted bass during a September adventure at Collins Lake .

Photo courtesy of the COLLINS LAKE RECREATION AREA , Oregon House .

LAKE BERRYESSA

Afternoon Yields Top Black Bass Action

NAPA – Larry Hemphill , fishing guide , was able to do a trip with Justin Wolff , owner of Angler West TV productions , in late September .

“ Clara Ricabal works with his company and was along for the trip ,” said Hemphill . “ Thankfully , she caught the biggest bass , as it should be ! Actually , it really was a fun day except for the weather conditions . The forecast was for a cool , breezy morning . Well , not so .”

We had bright sun with no breeze and the lake went totally flat by noon . Not a breath of wind . Very tough conditions ! Thankfully , we did get a slight breeze in the early afternoon and the bass became active ,” noted Hemphill .

“ What ’ s new - the usual afternoon bite - at least in my boat ,” Hemphill stated .

Continued on Pg 6